Samsung Gear Live

Apparently, not all Android Wear smartwatches are created equal. While those who own the Moto 360 and the Sony Smartwatch 3 are rejoicing that they will have WiFi support from the latest update from the wearable platform, some smartwatches like the LG G Watch, G Watch R, and the Asus Zenwatch will not be getting this additional connectivity from Android. There is still no word from Samsung on whether their devices have WiFi antennas.

Round-faced smartwatches used to be a big deal, if only because there were only very few in the market. Back then it was just the LG G Watch R and the Moto 360 competing in the Android Wear market. But now there are other players like Huawei and LG has released other models as well, trying to get a piece of the pie and attracting those who would like a wearable that looked like a normal watch but had the functionality of a gadget.

Before you thinking of getting a new smartwatch yet again, update your wearable to Android Wear 5.0.2 first. Google has recently rolled out the Android Wear 5.0.2 software update but only for some Android Wear devices like the LG G Watch R, Motorola Moto 360, and Samsung Gear Live. These are some of the bestsellers in the wearable market today but they could soon be rivalled by the latest models we've seen the past few weeks like the gorgeous LG Watch Urban.

We always knew more fun and geeky stuff would be available on any device running Android Wear but not this early. Well, the wearable device OS is easy to customize anyway so no wonder a Gameboy emulator has been transported to a Samsung Gear Live by Davenport. He’s the same guy who previously ran Windows 95 on Android Wear.

YouTube user Corbin Davenport is gaining a bit of Internet notoriety, although we’re not exactly sure if this is the good or the bad kind. You see, he has tried to run some programs on Android Wear devices that, err… are not really normal nor useful to say the least. He has run Minecraft on his Samsung Gear Live, and has also ported classic PC shooter Doom on the same device. Now he has, for whatever reason unknown, managed to run a full Windows 95 operating system on his Android Wear device.

Before the next version of the wearable OS arrives next month, the Android Wear platform gets a minor update. The Samsung Gear Live and the Moto 360 are the first two smartwatches getting the KGW42N update. This isn't the Wear 2.0 we've been featuring recently so don't get too excited yet.

As we’ve written about before, it seems like smartwatches might be taking centre stage at the IFA 2014 tech expo in Berlin. There will be a lot of eyeballs on Android Wear, as more wearables will be added to the platform to join LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live and the upcoming Moto 360, especially since rival Apple is also rumoured to be announcing their own wearable device. CNet sat down with Google executives to talk about their future plans for the smartwatch platform.

If it’s always been your dream to control your smartphone with Jedi mind tricks, well you’re one step closer to that with a new app for your smartwatch. Kiwi for Android Wear allows you to control your smartphone through your wearable device not by actually touching it but through hand gestures that are set for specific actions. Yes, just a wave of your hand can now let you use your gadgets even without taking it out of your bag or pocket.

It may only have two smartwatches (soon to three) running under its platform but Android Wear may soon be the most popular one for wearables. With Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch and the entry this summer of the Moto 360, the first round face smartwatch, it is poised to slowly gain in popularity, at least for the Android community. Google uploaded four new ads on their YouTube channel, showcasing the capabilities and beauty of smartwatches running on Android Wear.

Android Wear development, both mainstream and on the sidelines, seems to be well under way. After a strong influx of Android Wear apps on Google Play Store, the modding community is also stepping up its game, starting with the availability of TWRP recovery on two of the only Android Wear smartwatches in existence, the G Watch and Gear Live.